PK's Picks

THE BEAUTY OF VIOGNIER

Explore the origins and beauty of Viognier while tasting through 2019 Blacksmith Blanc, 2022 Forgeron Cellars Viognier, 2021 Forgeron Cellars Viognier, and 2019 Forgeron Cellars Syrah (Syrah/Viognier co-ferment blend).

Viognier is on the rise and we are all the better for it.

As recently as 1985, the varietal was bordering on extinction, with only 57 acres planted worldwide, the bulk of it in the fabulous Northern Rhône region Condrieu. Today, plantings can be found all over France, as well as in Australia, Chile, South Africa, Israel, New Zealand, Greece, Japan, Argentina, and the USA, with notable successes found in Virginia, California, and Washington. Pronounced ‘Vee – own – yay’, the varietal is frequently called ‘the hedonists grape’ or the 'floral grape', as the best versions of it display heady aromatics, lush textures, and a depth of flavor bordering on voluptuous (obnoxious?). Typical Viognier descriptors include overtly ripe stone fruits, such as apricots and peaches, exotic beauties like mango and pineapple, honeysuckle, citrus blossoms, any number of floral blooms, and honeycomb. The best versions are rich, textural, full-flavored, ranging from seductive to promiscuous in their ability to garner your palate’s complete, rapt attention. 

Not content to be a one trick varietal, Viognier is often used in blends with other white Rhône grapes (Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc) and features a rare enzyme that, when used with Syrah, actually darkens the color of the wine. This is often common practice in the Côte-Rôtie AOC in Northern Rhône, producing opulent wines of deep introspection and spiced aromatics ( we mimic this practice each when crafting our Forgeron Cellars Boushey Vineyard Syrah).

At Forgeron Cellars, we embrace Viognier in all its complex forms, blending it with Roussanne in the Blacksmith Blanc, bottling it solo from both Francisca’s and Cloud Vineyards, and co-fermenting it with Syrah from the famed Boushey Vineyard, Old World-styled Forgeron Syrah.

Or, as we call it, vee – own – YAY!

- PK